“It’s important that we understand each other at a human level” | OneFootball

Horst Steffen is Werder Bremen’s new head coach (Photo: W.DE).

Interview with new Werder head coach Horst Steffen

SV Werder’s new head coach is Horst Steffen, whose busy week has included competing in the relegation play-off with SV Elversberg and now signing a contract at the Green-Whites. The 56-year-old spoke to WERDER.DE about why he chose to join the club and how he likes his teams to play football.

WERDER.DE: Moin Horst, welcome to Werder Bremen. You’ve been extremely busy recently, finishing the season with Elversberg, then playing in the relegation play-off and now signing a contract with Werder Bremen. Have you had any time to reflect on it all?

Horst Steffen: No, not yet, but I’m sure I’ll be able to do that in the next few days. I’ll take a few days off for a holiday and that will definitely allow me to reflect on everything.

WERDER.DE: You were head coach at SV Elversberg for almost seven years. Did you have to take long to think about the offer when it came?

Horst Steffen: It’s important to get to know the people you will be working with, which is why we spoke and then the conversations were so positive that I said I could imagine making this move.

Horst Steffen wants to carry on the team’s development (Photo: W.DE).

WERDER.DE: What convinced you to join Werder during your talks?

Horst Steffen: It was a few sentences at the very beginning of the conversation that really mattered – about the importance of the human side of things, the sense of family within the club. The conversation didn’t start off with certain targets being discussed. It was about a shared mindset, about how we treat one another, and that really matches what I’m looking for. If the attitude is right, then everything else can follow. Putting the emphasis on togetherness right from the first few sentences is something I haven’t experienced often, but it’s incredibly important to me.

WERDER.DE: You seem like a calm, reflective person. How would you describe yourself as a coach?

Horst Steffen: I’d say I’ve experienced a lot already, so I can approach a lot of things more calmly. I’m no longer as emotional when dealing with the ups and downs of sport. I prefer to make low-key and reflective statements. I can think strategically, and then give interviews or speak to the players as appropriate. My approach is to believe that players want to give as much as possible for our club, including in terms of results. I’m not familiar with the idea that they go about things with the wrong attitude. I put a fundamental level of trust in the players, and they can create that for themselves, particularly at the start. The players are the most important people here, so it’s important to get through to them in order to demand the required level of performance. In the first instance, it’s important that we understand each other at a human level.

Horst Steffen

WERDER.DE: What was your view of the current Werder team as an outsider?

Horst Steffen: They seem very solid, including in terms of performances. They’ve improved year by year and mostly managed to remain consistent. Something that I like is that the players run to each other when celebrating goals, which gives me a sense that they fit together well as a group. I haven’t detected any egos, and have instead seen what appears to be a single unit. That was my view from outside. I’m curious to find out how it is when I’m here and get to know the lads.

Steffen: “I want to get to know Bremen, the club and the players as quickly as possible”

WERDER.DE: How familiar are you with Bremen and with Werder?

Horst Steffen: Not too familiar yet. I’ve obviously experienced some of Werder’s history up close, particularly during my time as a player. It was always to difficult to pick up points here. They are a strong football team. There’s been a certain amount of consistency at management level and with the coaching set-up. I haven’t seen too much of Bremen so far, but I’m very interested and I’m curious to do so.

Steffen is looking forward to taking on his first role as a head coach in the Bundesliga (Photo: W.DE).

WERDER.DE: Did you speak about your move with people who know Werder better?

Horst Steffen: No, I didn’t do that. The information I got from the hierarchy was enough to tell me that this would be a good environment for me, and that I can achieve success with the players and the club.

WERDER.DE: What does your schedule look like? When will you start planning for next season?

Horst Steffen: That starts now, now that everything’s confirmed. Over the next few days, we’ll concentrate on preparations and squad planning. We’ll look at whether there will be any outgoings or any incomings who could potentially arrive. I want to get to know Bremen, the club and the players as quickly as possible. That’s my main task.

WERDER.DE: What goals do you set when you start a new job?

Horst Steffen: For me, it’s important to work well every day, to get to know the ropes as soon as possible and to make myself comfortable. That’s my first task. In terms of football, we’ll try and get achieve the best we can. We can’t say yet what the ‘best’ is. I’m not as focused on reaching a specific position in the table, but more on having a good attitude every day and wanting to improve. My aim is to give the lads something which makes them feel good and form a strong unit. Then, the results will come.

WERDER.DE: Thank you and we wish you all the best with your new club!